US offers $5 bn to fight AIDS

The US has offered to contribute up to $5 billion over the next 3 years to fight HIV/AIDS as the rest of world’s contributors offer double that amount.

“The United States will contribute $1 for every $2 pledged by other donors over the next three years, up to $5 billion total from the United States. The United Kingdom has made a similar promise,” US President Barack Obama said in a major policy speech on AIDS.

“The United States of America will remain the global leader in the fight against HIV and AIDS,” Obama said, adding that it was time for the world to come together to set new goals of an AIDS-free generation.

“Looking ahead, it’s time for the world to come together to set new goals,” he said adding that right now the US is working hard to get a permanent leader in place at PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief).

“And once we do, one of our first items of business will be convening a meeting early next year, so the United States and our partners worldwide — including governments, the Global Fund, UN-AIDS, and civil society — can sit around one table and develop joint HIV prevention and treatment goals for the countries where we and the Global Fund do business,” he said.

“We’ll hold each other accountable, and we’ll continue to work to turn the tide of this epidemic together,” he added.

“And that includes keeping up our support for the Global Fund. Its success speaks for itself. It’s helping over six million people in over 140 countries receive antiretroviral therapy. Now it’s time to replenish the Fund,” he said.

The US President announced a new initiative at the National Institutes of Health to advance research into an HIV cure.

“We’re going to redirect $100 million into this project to develop a new generation of therapies. Because the United States should be at the forefront of new discoveries into how to put HIV into long-term remission without requiring lifelong therapies or, better yet, eliminate it completely,” he said.

As such he urged all those who are attending the Global Fund’s replenishment meetings to take up this commitment.

“Don’t leave our money on the table. It’s been inspiring to see the countries most affected by this disease vastly increase their own contributions to this fight — in some cases, providing more than donor countries do. And that ought to inspire all of us to give more, to do more, so we can save more lives,” he said.

“After all, none of the progress we’ve made against AIDS could have been achieved by a single government or foundation or corporation working alone. It’s the result of countless people — including so many of you — working together from countries large and small, philanthropies, universities, media, civil society, activists,” he said.

“More than anything, I think it’s thanks to the courageous people living with HIV around the world who’ve shared their stories; you’ve lent your strength, demanded your dignity be recognised, and led the fight to spare others the anguish of this disease,” he said.

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